Measured-service telephone system



1,628,093 May 10, 1927. J. WICKS MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM Original Filed July 3, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 flnuen mr- I John lnfipks I 1,628,093 May 10. 1921. J. WICKS umsumsn SERVICE TELEPHONE sysrsm Original FiledJuly s. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E y; m 0 144*- hn mks J0 Inf Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WICKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, {1'0 AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC INC., 035 CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

MEASURED-SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Application filed July 3,

The present invention relates in general to measured service telephone systems, and more particularly to automatic measured service systems in which a type of paystation apparatus is provided at each srfloscribers station requiring the deposit of a coin for each connection.

The general object of the invention is to provide improved circuit arrangements for the coin controlling apparatus, which in this case is a repeater individual to each of the paystation subscribers lines.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the circuits of this repeater, that the toll operator may collect or refund coins deposited in the paystation mechanism to pay for an established toll connection, without having any special equipment, such as the usual toll service trunks and separate trains of switches.

The above and other objects of the invention will be explained hereinattcr. reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, comprising Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown sutiicient of the apparatus to enable the invention to be readily explained and understood. This comprises the individual line repeater D, the line switch C, a first selector E, and a connector H, these switches being used to complete a connection from the line of the substation A to the line of the substation A.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l, the substation A is of the automatic type having the usual talking instrumentalities and an impulse sender S. Being a measured service substation telephone, there is also provided a well-known type of coin collecting mechanism, which may be of the same structure as that shown and described in the United States patent to Forsberg, No. 1,043,219, granted November 5, 1912.

The line conductors 11 and 12 extend from the subscribers substation to the exchange, and at the latter point, through the repeater D to the individual line or trunk selecting switch C. The repeater D controls the coin. collecting and refunding operations of the paystation mechanism in a manner which will appear fully hereinafter.

The line switch C is of the usual rotary type, whose wipers have no normal position. This line switch in common with a plurality of others has access to first selector switches. such as the selector E, F ig. 2.

1922. Serial No. 572,658.

The selector E is of the usual Strow'ger vertical and rotary type. The circuits of this switch are well-known and have only been partly shown in the drawings. The selector E has access to trunk lines extending to connector switches, one of these connectors being shown in the drawings at H.

The connector H is a switch of the wellknown vertical and rotary type, and is adapted to complete connections to subscribers lines, one of these being that of the substation A.

The substation A is of the usual automatic type and may be similar to the substation A, Fig. 1, however, for convenience th measured service equipment has been omitted. The line of the substation A terminates at the exchange in the line switch C.

The line switch C is similar to the line switch C, Fig. 1, already described.

The relays which are slow to pull up and also slow to release are shown with the copper slugs in black, while the relays with the copper slugs shaded are only slow to release.

\Vhile in the drawings only one selector has been shown, it will be understood that the system may be enlarged to any desired size by the insertion of standard selector switches between the selector E and connector H.

Having briefly described the equipment shown in the drawings, its detailed operation will now be explained. For this purpose, it will be assumed that a subscriberat substation A desires to extend a. connection to the line of the substation A. In order to do this the calling subscriber will remove his receive-r, deposit a coin in the coin box, and operate his calling device in accordance with the digits of the called subscribers number.

The calling subscriber may first deposit a coin of suitable denomination in the coin collecting mechanism provided for that purpose. This mechanism is well understood and its operation need not be explained in detail. It will suffice to say that when the coin is deposited. it descends past the trigger mechanism which is released by the coin, with the result that the polarized magnet of the coin collecting mechanism is con nectcd from the line conductor 11 to ground and the short circuit around the impulse springs of the calling device S is removed. The latter operation renders the calling device opem'tiw e to {control 1 the central office switches.- -The coin may be deposlted 1n the mechanism either before or after the recei-verisremmied'.- In-anyevent, when the receiver is removed, a circuit is completed over the line conductors 11 and 12 in series for the relay 31 in the' repeater D. The line relay 31, upon ener izing, at armature 57 completes a circuit or the slow acting relay 32. Upon operating, the latter relay, at armatnre" 60, prepares a circuit for the slow" acting relay 35, atyarmature'trl completes a cireu'it for the elarizing winding oi the electro polarized relay33, and at armature 59 places ground upon the private normal conductor '95, whereby the line of the substation A -is'rendered inaccessible to the'connecterswitches, such as HQ Another rsulfioftheenergilatioh of the line relay 31, isthat at armature 58 a' bridge is placed acrossmondiictorsw and 98. This bridge may be traced from conductor 97' by way of-armature 64 'and its back contact, through the upper winding of the electro-polarized' relay i-ifh'through' th'ewvinding of relay 34, and armature" 58 and its front contact to conductor 98'. Theline relay 76 of the line switch C isenergi'zed over this bridge in series*with the relay 34 of the repeater. Relay 34; upon operating'at armature 63 removes the short circuit around the impedance coil '36. The line relay 76 operates at armature 82 to close the circuit of the switching relay in series with'the motor magnet 77, and to connect the test wiper 84 to the 'above circuit'at a point midway between the switching relay and the motor magnet at armature 81. The line switch 0 nowoperates-in the usual manner to select an idle trunk line, which, it will be assumed-Ms the trunk line comprising cond-n'ctors 90492, inclusive. When the switch wipers 83 85, inclusive, of the line switch 0' are: brought into engagement with the bank contacts 86-88,' inclusive, associated with'th'istru nk linetthe switching relay 75. -wh ich has hitherto beenshort circuited, isen'ergizerh Uponoperating, relay 75 at armature 7 9 pilaces a mouhdpotential upon t-hteSt contact 87 in order to busy the seized trunk line, at armature's' 78 and disconnectsthe conductors 97 and'98' from tlie'windin gs of'thedirfe' relay 76 and from gi'otinkil -respectfively, and at the front contactsflif these armatures extends the said conductorsover wipers 83 and 85, trunk conditetors90and 92, an'ol to the upper and lower-windin s of the line relay of the fi'ist sl'ectbi 'EL' retay ioo, of the first selector imediatelyenergizedover a circuit which immes'ehvarmatare 58"and its'fi'o nt contfiitfi' dfi tliet linen-sla 31'of'the repeater D. U ea eperating. relay-100 closes the circuit oi the slew aetm'g' reiease relay 101. Upon operating, relay 101 prepares the operating circuits of the selector E and places ground upon the release trunk conductor 91, thereby establishing the usual holding circuit for the switching relay 75 of the line switch C.

The calling subscriber at substation A may now operate his calling device in accordance with the first digit of the dcsircd number. By this operation. a series of interruptions is produced in the circuit of the line relay 51 of the repeater D. The relay 31 operates in response to these interruptions, and at armature 58 repeats these interruptions to the line relay 100 of the lector E, and at armature 57 sends impulses of current through the winding of the slow acting relay 35. The latter relay operates at armature 64 to place a direct bridge across the conductors 97 and 98 through the armature 58 on the line relay. The relay 34 immediately deenergizes and at armature 63 short circuits the impedance coil 36. By these operations, the inipulsing circuits are greatly improved.

The line relay 100 of the first selector E operates to control the vertical magnet of that switch in raising the wipers 103105. inclusive, step by step until they are placed opposite the desired level of bank contacts. Shortly after the termination of the vertical movement of the switch, its trunk hunting movement begins and continues until the switch wipers are brought into engagement with the bank contacts associated with an idle trunk line, which. it will be assumed, are the bank contacts -112. inclusive. The switching relay 102 of the selector E is now energized and operates to extend the conductors 90 and 92 to the windings of the line relay 121 of'the connector H.

The line relay 121 in'iniediately operates to close the circuit of the slow acting rclcasc relay 122. The latter relay operates to prepare the inipulsing circuits of the connector H at armature 139, and at armature 138 to place ground upon the release trunk conductor 164, thereby establishing a holding circuit for the selector E and line switch C.

The calling subscriber may now dial the next digit in the desired number. As bc fore, a series of interruptions is produced in the circuit of the line relay 31 of the repeater I). and this relay operates to repeat this series to the line relay 121 of the connector H. The relays 34 and 35 operate as before to improve the impulsing circuits. The line relay 121 of of the connector H, upon operating in response to these interruptions, sends a series of impulses to the vertical magnet 130. The circuit over which the first of these impulses is sent may be traced from ground by way of armature 137 and its back contact, armature 139 and its front contact, off normal springs 143 and 142, through the winding of the slow acting relay 123, and through the winding of the vertical magnet 130 to battery. Magnet 130 operates to raise the switch wipers 160 162, inclusive, step by step until these wipers are brought opposite the proper level of bank contacts. Upon the first vertical movement of the switch, the off normal springs are operated, and the remaining vertical magnet impulses traverse a. new circuit, which is similar to the one above traced, except that it includes the ofl normal springs 143 and 144 and armature 140 on the slow acting relay 123, which is now energized. The slow acting relay 123 is energized in series with the vertical ma net, and maintains its armature attracted throughout the vertical movement of the switch. Shortly after its termination, this relay deenergizes to transfer the operating circuit to the rotary magnet 129.

When the calling device at the calling substation is operated in accordance with the next and final digit of the desired number, the line relay 31 of the repeater D operates in response to the interruptions produced in its circuit, and repeats these interruptions to the line relay of the connector H; This relay deenergizes a plurality of times in response thereto, each time sending an impulse of current over the following circuit: ground, by way of armature 137 and its back contact, armature 139 and its front contact, off normal springs 143 and 144, armature 140 and its back contact, back contact and armature 149, armature 156 and its back contact, and through the winding of the rotary magnet 129 to battery. Magnet 129 operates to rotate the wipers 160-162, inclusive, of the connector step by step until they are placed in engagement with the bank contacts 177179, inclusive, associated with the line of substation A. The slow acting relay 126 is energized in multiple with the rotary magnet, and operates its armature 151 to connect the test wiper 161 to the test relay 125, and at armature 152 short circuits the contact s rings comprising armature 149 and its bac contact on the test relay 125, so as to prevent the rotary magnet circuit being prematurely opened by energization of the test relay 125, while the switch wipers are being rotated past bank contact sets associated with busy telephone lines.

Assuming that the desired line is busy, there will be a ground potential upon the test contact 178 and the test relay 125 will be energized. Upon operating, rela 125 at armature 148 prepares a locking circuit for itself, which is closed upon the deenergization of the slow acting relay 126, at armature 149 opens the circuit of the rotary magnet, and at armature 150 connects a lead from the busy signalling machine to the lower heavy talking conductors. By this operation, the calling subscriber is given a busy signal in order to inform him that the desired line is inaccessible for the present.

The calling subscriber will now replace his receiver, thereby initiating the release of the operated switches and the refunding oi the coin in the following manner: The re placement of the receiver at the calling substation opens the circuit of the line relay 31 in the repeater D, which deenergizes, opening the circuit of the slow acting relay 32 at armature 57, and at armature 58 opening the circuit of the line relay 121 of the connector H. After the deenergization of the line relay 31 and before the deenergization of the slow acting relay 32, an impulse of current is sent to the slow acting relay 35. The latter relay, upon operating, at armature 66 prepares a circuit for the relay 29. Upon the deenergization of the slow acting relay 32, the relay 29 is energized. Upon operating, relay 29 closes the circuit of the slow acting relay 28 at armature 53, and at armature 52 prepares a point in the circuit extending from the battery B. Relay 28. upon operating, at armature 50 places ground upon the private normal conductor 95, so as to prevent the line of the substation A being connected with during the refunding operation. Other results of the energization of relay 28 are, that at armatures 49 and 51 a lead from the battery B is c0nnected to line conductors 11 and 12 of the substation A. The magnet in the paystation apparatus of the substation A energized to operate its armature in such direction as to refund the coin deposited. Upon the deenergization of the slow acting relay 35, which occurs shortly after the deenergization of the slow relay 32, the circuit of relay 29 is opened at armature (36. After a short interval relay 29 deenergizcs opening the circuit of the polarized magnet at the substation A and also the circuit 01" the slow acting relay 28. Relay 28 deen ergizes to restore the normal battery and ground connections to the line conductors of the substation A and to remove ground from the private normal conductor 95 thereby rendering the line of substation A idle. In this manner the circuits are returned to the normal condition.

The circuit of the line relay 121 of the connector H, being opened by the deenergization of the line relay 31 of the repeater D. causes this relay to deenergize, thereby opening the circuit of the slow acting relay 122. The latter relay deenergizes to remove ground from the release trunk conductor 164, and to close the circuit of the release magnet 128. Magnet 128 operates to restore the connector H to normal. The removal of ground from the release trunk conductor 164 opens the holding circuit of relays 102 and in the selector E and line switch C, respectively. These relays deenergize to restore their respective switches to normal. In the above manner the connection is released.

It will now be assumed that when the wipers 160-162, inclusive, of the connector H are rotated into engagement with the bank contacts 177-179, inclusive, the line of the substation A is idle. Under these conditions, no ground potential will exist upon the test contact 178, and the relay 125 will not be energized. Then, following the deenergization of the slow actingv relay 126, a.

circuit is completed which extends from ground on conductor 165 by way of armature 148 and its back contact, through the upper winding of the relay 127, back contact and armature 151, test wiper 161, test contact 178. through the winding of the switching relay 180 of the line switch C, and thence through the winding .of the motor magnet 181 to battery. The relays 127 and 180 are energized over this circuit. Due to a mechanical interlocking device controlled by the armature of the line relay 182, relay 180 does not completely attract its armatures, though it operates enough to disconnect the line of the called substation from its normal battery and ground connections in the line switch C.

In the connector H, the relay 127, upon operating, at armature 155 establishes a. locking circuit for itself, at armature 154 connects direct ground to the test wiper 161, and at armatures 153 and 157 completes the signalling circuit. Ringing current from the generator is now intermittently applied to the called line until an answer is obtained.

\Vhen the called subscriber answers, a circuit is completed for the ring cut off relay 12% in the connector. Upon energizing, relay 124 establishes a locking circuit for itself at armature 1 16, at armature 145 and 147.

opens the ringing circuit, and at the front contacts of these armatures finally completes the talking connection. The back bridge relay 121) is immediately operated over the called line loop, and at armatures 135 and 136 reverses the connections of the line relay 121 with regard to the incoming trunk conductors. thereby causing a reversal of current in the windings of the relays 33 and 34 in the repeater D. The momentary deenergization of relay 34 is without function. At this reversal the electro-polarized relay 33 is energized and operates at its armature 62 to close the circuit for the relay 30. llpon energizing, relay 3() establishes a locking circuit for itself at armature 56, and at armature 55 prepares a circuit so that when the calling subscriber hangs up. current from the battery B will be supplied to the calling line in order to collect the deposited com.

neeaoes initiated inthesame manner as before, the difference in this: instance beingthat, as the relay 30 in the repeater D is energized, cur.- rent.from the battery B issuppliedto the line conductors ofithe calling line so that themagnet of the paystation apparatus of sub station A aetuates its armature in such direction as to collect the coin deposited. It will be noted that the relay 30 is maintained energized over its locking circuituntil the connection is released. Theswitches C. E, and H are released in .identically the same manner as was hereinbefore described.

Having described the operation of the re= peater D and the paystation equipment. atsubstation A i when the subscriber at this substation initiates a. call, the manner. in which this equipment operates when the subscriber is called by a toll operator will now be explained- For this purpose it will be assumed that an operatorat the toll .board :desires to callthe subscriber at'substation A in order to complete a toll connection, which has been requested by that-subscriberl The toll operator may have-outgoing. trunks at her position terminating in line switches such as G, which have access to first selectors such as E by way ofmultiples. such{ as the one shown terminating in bank contacts 97'. 98', and 99.

Assuming that connection is established with bank contacts 97', 98, and 99 by the operation of the operators line switch. .in response to the first operation of the calling device, the selector E is caused to operate its wipers tothe proper. level of bank contacts,-

and to then rotate them until they are brought into engagement with the bank con tacts associated with an idle connector switch, which it will be assumed are the bank contacts 110-112, inclusive. The switching relay 102 of the selector E immediately energizes to extend a connection to the line relay 121 of the connector-H. The line relay 121 and the release relay 122 operates, as before, to prepare theswitch circuits for operation.

In response 1 to, the. two remaining digits of the called :subscriberlsnumber, the wipers 160-162, inclusive, ,arei firstraised vertically to the proper level of bank contacts, and are then rotated until they are brought into engagement with the contacts 17 0172, inclusive, in which is terminated the line of the substation A. The operations so far described take place in the same manner as before.

Assuming that the line of the substation A is idle when the switch wipers of the connector H are brought into engagement with the bank contacts 170172, inclusive, a circuit will be completed upon the deengization of the slow acting relay 126, which extends from grounded conductor 165, armature 148 and its back contact, through the upper winding of relay 127, back contact and armature 151, test wiper 161, test contact 171, private normal conductor 95, armature 59 and its back contact in the repeater D, normally closed springs, controlled by armature 50, and through the winding of the slow acting relay 27 to battery. The relay 27 is energized over this circuit, and, upon operating, at armature 45 prepares another circuit for itself, at armature 46 closes the circuit of the slow acting relay 26, at armatures 44 and 48 disconnects the line of the substation A from its normal battery and ground connections in the repeater D, and at armature 47 closes a circuit for the relay 30. Relay 26, upon operating, at' armatures 41 and 43 prepares certain points in a testing circuit as will appear later, and completes the circuit of the slow acting relay 29 at armature 42. Relay 30, upon operating, at armature 55 prepares a certain point in the coin collecting circuits, and at armature 56 prepares a locking circuit for itself. Relay 29, upon operating, at armature 54 closes a locking circuit for relay 30, at armature 53 closes a circuit for the relay 28, and prepares another point in the coin controlling circuits at armature 52. Upon operating, relay 28, at armature 50, transfers the connection from the private normal conductor from its normally closed springs to the said armature, and at armatures 49 and 51 closes another point in the above mentioned testing circuit.

In the connector H, relay 127, upon operating, establishes a locking circuit for itself and completes the ringing circuit. The subscriber at substation A is now intermittently signalled until he answers.

hen the receiver is removed, the ring cut off relay 124 is energized to disconnect the ringing current. The back bridge relay 120 is energized and operates to reverse the current flow over the incoming trunk conductors. By this reversal .the operator at the toll board is given the usual supervisory signal to notify her that the called subscriber has answered.

The toll operator will now come in on the line by throwing her listening key and after ascertaining the proper party is at the telephone, will request him to deposit the required amount in the coin box. By the usual audible signal the operator is informed when the correct amount is laced in the coin chute and will complete t e connection. From this point on the operations may take either of two courses.

Should the connection not be properly completed atthe present time, the toll operator will wish to refund the coins deposited in the paystation mechanism. To accomplish this result, the toll operator will request the calling subscriber to leave his receiver off the hook until the coins are refunded and to then replace it. The operator will now release the connection. The release of the operated switches E and H takes place in the same manner as has been before described.

By the release of the connector H, ground is removed from the private normal conductor 95, whereby the circuit of the slow acting relay 27 in the repeater D is opened. After a short interval, this relay deenergizes, thereby opening the circuit of the slow acting relay 26 at armature 46 and the original energizing circuit of the relay 30 at armature 47. Other results of the deenergization of relay 27 are that at armature 45 ground is connected to the private normal conductor 95, in order to busy the line of the substation A during the coin controlling operations, and at armatures 44 and 48 the relay 25 is connected to the line conductors l1 and 12, thereby completing the above mentioned testing circuit. As the receiver is off at the substation A, relay 25 immediately energizes to open the circuit of the relay 30. Relay 30 at once deenergizes to prepare a point in the coin refunding circuits. Upon the deenergization of the slow acting relay 26, current from the battery B is applied to line conductors 11 and 12, in order to actuate the magnet at the substation A in such manner that the deposited coins are refunded to the subscriber thereat. Upon the deenergization of the relays 35, 29, and 28, the circuits of the repeater D are restored to normal as before.

It will now be assumed that in the preceding toll connection the toll operator desires to collect the coins deposited at substation A. In order to do this, the toll operator merely has to refrain from pulling down the connection until the subscriber at substation A hangs up. By the usual supervisory signal the operator will know when this is done and she will then release the connection extending to the substation A. The operation of the various relays in the repeater D is similar to their operation in the preceding connection, the only difference being that, as the receiver is on the hook at the substation A, the relay 25 in the repeater D will-notbe energized to open the circuit of the relay 3(). As the relay 30'remains'energ-ized, current from the battery 'B is supplied to the line conductors Hand 12 of the calling substation to actuate theinagnet' thereat to collect the deposited coins rather than to refund them. The apparatus is released in the usual manner.

It will be understood, of course, that the repeater=Dcan be used advantageously for pa'ystation lines even when a toll service trunking system is employed if there are only a small number of these lines making it undesirable to equip the toll service trunks with'coil controlling apparatus.

T hef-eatures of the invention having been described and ascertained, what. is considered to be-new anddesired to have protected by Letters Patent will be pointed out in the appended claim.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a telephone system, an auto iatic switch, a called line, means for operating saidswitch to connect with said line, means for releasing said switch, paystation mechanism on said line, a magnet in said paystation m'echanism for controlling deposited coins, and means individual to said line operative when said automatic switch is re leased for closing acircnit for energizing said magnet.

2. In a telephone system, an automatic switch, a called line,-.means for operating" said switch to connect with said line, means for releasing said switch, paystation mechanism at the substation on said line. a magnet in said paystation mechanism for control-- ling deposited coins, and relay means individual to-said line operative responsive to said release for projecting current out on said line to energize said magnet.

3. In a telephone system, an automatic switch, a line, paystation mechanism at the substation on said line. a magnet in said paystat-ion mechanism for controlling coins deposited therein, a repeater for said line. a high voltage battery, means on operating said switch to connect with said line. means for releasing said switch. and relays in said repeater operative responsive to such release to apply said high voltage battery to said line to energize said magnet.

4. In a telephone system. an automatic switch, a line, paystation mechanism at the substation on said line, means for operating said switch to connect with said line, means for releasing said switch either before or after the receiver is replaced at said substation, means operative if said release occurs after said receiver is replaced for collecting coins deposited in said mechanism, and means operative if said release occurs before said receiver is replaced for refunding said coins.

5. In a telephone system, an automatic switch, a line, paystation mechanism at the substation on said line, a'magnet in said mechanism for collecting or refunding coins deposited therein, high voltage batteries of opposite polarity, a repeater individual to said line, means for operating said switch to connect with said line, means for releasing said switch, relays in said repeater operative if said release occurs before the receiver is replaced at the substation on said line for connecting one of said high voltage batteries to said line to energize said magnet to refund deposited coins, said relays operative if said release occurs after said receiver is replaced to connect the other of said batteries to said line to energize said magnet to collect said coins.

6. In a telephone system, a first line, paystation mechanism the substation on said line, a magnet in said mechanism for controlling deposited coins, a repeater individual to said line, a second line, means including automatic switches controlled from said first line for extending a connection to said second line, means for releasing said connection, relay controlled means in said repeater operative responsive to such release to energize said magnet, means for completing a connection to said first line, and means for releasing said second completed connection, said relay controlled means in said repeater-also operating responsive to said last release to energize said magnet.

7. In a telephone system, a line, paystation mechanism at the substation on said line, a magnet in said mechanism for controlling deposited coins. means for extending a connection to said line or from said line to another line, means for releasing either connection, and relay equipment indi vidual to said line operative in event of either release to cause the actuation of said magnet.

8. In a telephone system, a line, paystation mechanism therefor, means for extending a connection either to or from said line, means-, for releasing said connection, means responsive to the release of a connection extendin from the line for either collecting or refunding coins deposited ins-aid mechanism depending upon Whether the call was answered or not, and means responsive to the release of a connection extending to the line for either collecting or refunding coins do posited in said mechanism depending upon whether the subscriber on said line restores his receiver before or after the C(lllllttiilOl'i is released.

9. In a telephone system. a pair of lines. an automatic switch for extending a con-- nection between said lines, paystation mechanism on one of said lines. means for releasin said switch either before or after the subscriber on said paystation line has hung up his receiver, and means responsive to the release of said switch for either collecting or refunding the coins deposited in said mechanism depending on whether or not the said subscriber has hung up.

10. In a telephone system, an automatic switch, a line, paystation mechanism at the substation on said line, means for operating said switch to connect with said line, means for releasing said switch either before or after the receiver is replaced at said substation, and means rendered operative by the replacement of the receiver before the switch is released for causing the coins deposited in said mechanism to be collected responsive to the release of said switch.

11. In a telephone system, an automatic switch, a line, paystation mechanism at the substation on said line, means for operating said switch to connect with said line, means for releasing said switch either before or after the receiver is replaced at said substa tion, means for collecting coins deposited in said mechanism, means for refunding coins deposited in said mechanism, means rendered effective by the replacement of the receiver before the switch is released for rendering said collecting means operative responsive to the release of said switch, and means operative responsive to the release of said switch before the receiver is replaced to cause said coin refunding means to function.

12. In a telephone system, a line paystation mechanism therefor, an automatic switch operated to seize said line, means for releasing said switch either before or after the subscriber hangs up his receiver, and means responsive to the release of said switch for collecting the coins deposited in said mechanism if the switch is released after the subscriber hangs up his receiver.

13. In a telephone system, a line, paystation mechanism therefor, an automatic switch operated to seize said line, means for releasing said switch either before or after the subscriber hangs up his receiver, means responsive to the release of said switch for refunding the coins deposited in said mechanism if the switch is released before the subscriber hangs up his receiver, and means responsive to the release of said switch for collecting the coins deposited in said mechanism if the switch is released after the subscriber hangs up his receiver.

14. In a telephone system, a line, paystation mechanism therefor, an automatic switch operated to seize said line. means for releasing said switch either before or after the subscriber hangs up his receiver. and means responsive to the release of said switch for refunding the coins deposited in said mechanism if the switch is released before the subscriber hangs up his receiver.

15. In a telephone system, a telephone line provided with paystation mechanism. means for extending a connection to said line, means for releasing said connection, and relay means individual to said line and responsive to said release for controlling said mechanism to either collect or refund deposited coins.

16. In a telephone system, a telephone line provided with paystation mechanism. means for extending a connection to said line, means for releasing said connection, and relay means individual to said line and re sponsive to said release for controlling said mechanism to either collect or refund deposited coins depending upon whether the subscriber on said line restores his receiver before or after the connection is released.

17. In a telephone system, a telephone line provided with paystation mechanism, means for extending a connection to said line, means for releasing said connection, and relay means individual to said line and responsive to said release for controlling said mechanism to either collect or refund deposited coins depending upon a switching opcration performed by the subscriber on said line before or after the connection is released.

18. In a telephone system, a line provided with paystation mechanism. means for extending a connection to said line, means at said line for performing a switching operation, a test relay individual to said line and responsive to said switching operation. means for releasing said connection and means controlled by said test relay upon release of said connection for operating said mechanism to either collect or refund deposited coins.

19. In a telephone system, a line provided with paystation mechanism. means for extending a connection to said line. means atsaid line for perforn'iing a switching operation, a test relay individual to said line and responsive to said switching operation. means for releasing said connection. and means controlled by said test relay upon release of said connection for operating said mechanism to either collect or refund dcposited coins depending upon the time said switching operation occurs relative to the release of said connection.

20. In a telephone system. a line provided with paystation mechanism. means for extending a connection to said line. a test relay individual to said line, means for re leasing said connection, means at said line for performing a switching operation prior to said release. and means operable upon said release and controlled by said test reiay cooperating with said switching operation for actuating said mechanism to collect dcposited coins.

21. In a telephone system. a line provided with pa vstation mechanism. means: for extending a connection to said line, a test relay individualto said line, meansifor releasing said connection, and means controlled by said test lelay upon release for actuating said mechanism to refund deposited coins.

In a telephone system, a line provided with paystation mechanism, meanstfor extending; a talking connection to SZliLlLlliIlQ,, a test relay individual to said line imeans controlled from the callingstationfol-releasing said connection, and means responsive to said release and controlled by said: test arelay for actuating said mechanism .torefund deposited coins.

22%. In a telephone system, a. line provided with paystation mechanism, means for extending a talking connection to said line, a test relay individual to said line. means controlled from the calling; station for releasing said connection. means at said line for pertorming a switching operation, andmeans responsive! to. said -release.-, and eontrolled by saidntest relaynfon actuating said mechanism to. collect-deposited; coins-if said switching operation is-performed priolto said-lelease.

24. In a telephone-system, a line. provided witln paystatiiqnnmeohanism means i foe extending-a1 talking oonneotion toisaid line, a test, relay individual to Said, line, means cantmllad from; the oalling stationi for, leleasing said connection,;meai1s :at said: line-for perfonming a cswiitohingt i-operation, :and means responsive .tmsaid: relase-zandreontmo'lled by said test relay: atom actuating said mechanism to-collect deposited uoins if said switching operation is perdiomnedapnior to said release. and to refund deposited coins ifv said switching operation isperformediaf ter release.

i In witness .whereoful: hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day .of June, A.:D., 1922.

J ()HN JVICKS. 

